The pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis elucidated by intravital multiphoton imaging

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25893117
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Collagenous pathology/Allergology
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: KIKUTA Junichi 大阪大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 助教 (60710069)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-08-30 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 関節リウマチ / 生体イメージング / 破骨細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by synovial joint inflammation and progressive cartilage/bone destruction. Arthritic bone destruction is considered to be mediated mainly by enhanced activation of osteoclasts at inflammatory sites. In this study, I established the advanced imaging system to visualize the cellular dynamics in arthritic joints with intravital multiphoton microscopy. By means of this system, I succeeded in visualization of abnormally activated osteoclasts in arthritic inflammation and bone destruction. Furthermore I revealed the in vivo effects of biologic agents on osteoclast function. This imaging approach would be beneficial for studying the pathophysiology of RA in vivo and would thus be useful for evaluating novel anti-rheumatic drugs.

Free Research Field

免疫学